The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the ECOWAS Network of Electoral Commissions (ECONEC) have adopted guidelines on the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in electoral processes across West Africa ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general election. The guidelines are aimed at strengthening electoral integrity and preparing democratic institutions in the…...
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the ECOWAS Network of Electoral Commissions (ECONEC) have adopted guidelines on the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in electoral processes across West Africa ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general election.
The guidelines are aimed at strengthening electoral integrity and preparing democratic institutions in the sub-region for the growing influence of emerging technologies.
INEC disclosed this in a statement via its X handle on Tuesday, October 13, following a two-day validation meeting involving electoral officials and information technology experts from across West Africa.
The commission said the guidelines followed the establishment of a working group at an ECONEC symposium on AI and election integrity held in Dakar, Senegal, in November 2025.
Speaking during a visit by the ECONEC delegation to INEC, the organisation’s Permanent Secretary and Head of the ECOWAS Electoral Assistance Division, Serigne Ka, said the guidelines were developed in response to the increasing role of AI in election administration.
“AI is here to stay. There is no way we can do away with AI anymore,” Ka said, stressing the need for electoral commissions to determine how best to manage and deploy the technology within their respective electoral systems.
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He said the next phase would focus on implementing the guidelines across the sub-region, with member commissions expected to share practical experiences and develop approaches suited to their electoral environments.
Ka also commended INEC for hosting the delegation, noting that Nigeria’s experience, including its existing work on AI, provided opportunities for knowledge-sharing and regional collaboration.
In his remarks, INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, SAN, called for stronger regional cooperation to address common electoral challenges and promote credible elections across West Africa.
He said electoral commissions in the region faced shared legal, institutional, political and operational challenges involving electoral technology, results management, voter education, electoral security and dispute resolution.
“No electoral commission has a monopoly on knowledge or experience. We all have valuable lessons to share and much to learn from one another,” Amupitan said.
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The INEC chairman said Nigeria’s preparations for the 2027 general election required institutional readiness, legal certainty, transparency and effective coordination among electoral stakeholders.
He listed the commission’s priorities to include maintaining an accurate voters’ register, procuring and testing electoral materials and technology on time, and training competent and impartial electoral personnel.
Amupitan added that INEC was strengthening engagement with political parties, civil society organisations, the media, security agencies and other stakeholders to address concerns promptly and promote transparent communication.
He also stressed the need to intensify voter and civic education to improve public understanding of electoral procedures, encourage peaceful participation and promote the lawful resolution of grievances.
Citing lessons from other countries in the sub-region, the INEC chairman referenced the commission’s participation in the ECONEC Post-Election Follow-up and Needs Assessment Mission to Sierra Leone from September 19 to 26, 2026.
According to him, the mission highlighted the connection between electoral reforms and political trust, while underscoring concerns over the implementation of agreed recommendations and relations between Sierra Leone’s government and the main opposition party ahead of the country’s 2028 general election.
He also noted that a constitutional question concerning the interpretation of the two-thirds majority required for constitutional amendments in Sierra Leone had been referred to the country’s Supreme Court for an authoritative interpretation.
Amupitan said the mission refrained from taking a position on the matter, adding that the development underscored the importance of constitutional certainty, respect for judicial independence and timely resolution of legal questions affecting electoral reforms.
Against this backdrop, he called for stronger cooperation among ECONEC member commissions in electoral technology, results transmission, records management, election logistics, risk assessment, personnel training and preventive regulation of political parties.
He also urged the commissions to deepen collaboration on voter education, responsible media engagement, combating misinformation, electoral security and inclusive participation, particularly for vulnerable groups.
The INEC chairman further advocated institutionalising post-election reviews and follow-up missions to ensure that recommendations were prioritised, implementation monitored and technical assistance aligned with identified needs.